Negotiating With Your Toddler

If your child is strong willed and you find yourself negotiating with your two year old on a regular basis, you are not alone! While being strong willed is an admirable characteristic in adults it can be very challenging in toddlers, elementary and middle schoolers; especially when you want them to do something and they don't want to.

So the question becomes how to not fight with your child, and instead handle the negotiation without getting frustrated, and how do you nurture instead of squash this quality that will be needed later on in your child's life?

I have advised so many parents on how to appropriately dialogue and how to avoid constant battles with their strong willed children, that when I began seeing those traits in my own son I had to laugh.

He definitely knows what he wants and he is gaining the vocabulary in lightning speed to let me know what it is. The hard part is to not get frustrated as I tend to the myriad of normal demands on my time.

Here are a few tips to help manage your toddler:

1) Pick your battles -- does it really matter if your child want to change back into his pajamas right when he gets home from the sitter?

2) What is important to your child? Let him/her pick out their own clothes if that is important to them.

3) If you child wants something and it is inconvenient can you offer up another option to appease?

4) Provide (2 or 3) choices and options so your child can pick from what you have selected.

Tracey's Tip #6 -- Being a Balanced Mom

If you are feeling overwhelmed with juggling motherhood and life, spend some quality time talking to your partner about dividing up some of the responsibilities.

Many times guys are waiting for us to tell them what we need, and we expect them to know what we need, which causes a breakdown in communication.

Instead share with him your thoughts and feelings and see how you can work together to balance the load!

Tracey's Tip #5 -- Being a Balanced Mom

Try to find ways to plan ahead.

One example is stocking up your house and medicine cabinet with anything your baby or child may need if he comes down with a cold or flu -- rather than having to find a way to run out when he isn't feeling well.

And always be flexible! If your child does get sick can you stay home and take care of him so he gets better quicker?

Not being open to a flexible plan can be stressful!

Happy Valentine's Day

This week my radio show is filled with Romance. Joining me to talk about the National Day of Love is Adrienne Drew from The Melting Pot restaurants (www.MeltingPot.com) where fondue becomes a memorable dining experience, and Gregory Godek author of the book "1001 Ways to Be Romantic".

I wanted to share one of my favorite restaurants, and one that is filled with romance as a place to take your lover. It even has a lover's lane for special romantic dinners where marriage proposals and anniversaries take place. Between the Melting Pot's romantic, fun, and inviting environment, to the leisurely dining experience (an average dinner can take over 2 hours), it's the perfect dinner out to get reconnected and spend quality time with your partner.

Then Gregory Godek talks about why romance is so important in a relationship, how his book can help a couple to reignite their relationship, and we discussed various creative ways to show your partner you care. I for one fell in love with his book, it is a great coffee table book and can be easily accessed whenever you are looking for ways to romance your honey. I plan on tapping into various suggestions to add a little more romance into my relationship! You can never have too much of that.

And while I have always loved Valentine's Day as a way to say "I Love You" ~~ this year it is even better being able to share the holiday, not only with my husband, but also with my 2 year old son Zack. I went out and bought a box of Elmo Valentine's Day cards and little boxes of message sweetheart candies for Zack to pass out to a few friends, as well as to his sitters.

Then this morning when he woke up he found a big helium heart balloon tied to a small cuddly brown bear that I had placed on the dining room table to celebrate Zack as my littlest Valentine!

What small token or gesture did you do for your husband, wife, or your partner, and your children? Did anyone do anything special for you? Today is a day of expressing love, friendship and appreciation for the special people in your life.

I appreciate all my friends and family and wish them a Happy Valentine's Day -- thanks for being there to love and support me always.

I wish you only the best in life!

Tracey's Tip #4 -- Being a Balanced Mom

Tap into the little things in life....your baby falling asleep on your shoulder, your child's glowing smile, your spouse's warm embrace, and try to live in the moment!

Let go of the running "to do" list in your head, breathe in the present and remember that time and moments are fleeting, make the most of each experience.

Winter Products & Illnesses (FM)

While most of the country is heavily in the midst of winter, that can mean colds, flu and other illnesses may be knocking at your door. How do you protect your family, be aware of the warning signs and stock your home with items to help your kids if they do get sick?

Ellie and Melissa from The Baby Planners and baby product experts join me to chat up winter products.(www.thebabyplanners.com) And as always time flies as we touch on everything from the basic first aid kit, to natural soothing lotions and potions, to what we do for our own kids to keep them warm and healthy.

Some of the products they recommended are:
* Nasal aspirator and saline drops (a must)
* Nose Freda
* Clean George -- hand sanitizer
* Cozy Bug -- a blanket that wraps around a car seat
* Giggle Online store -- animal shaped humidifiers
* Halo sleep sack
* Trader Joe's for natural oils
* Boogie Wipes for those runny noses
* Woobee stroller blanket
* Achoo chest rub at www.naturebabyorganics.com
* Grobag -- egg room thermometer

Then Dr. J.J. Levenstein, MD, my pediatrician expert finishes our conversation from the beginning of January when she covered the common cold, flu and influenza. This time she delves into RSV and RotoVirus. RSV is known as the "wheezing respiratory virus" and can be very dangerous for high risk babies (preemies, heart patients and lung patients) and generally wreaks havoc during the winter everywhere in the country.

Then Rotovirus is a diarrhea illness that can cause extreme dehydration and can require hospitalization due to lots of vomiting and diarrhea ailments combined.

Learn the symptoms and be prepared to act sooner rather than later for your child.

Tracey's Tip #3 -- Being a Balanced Mom

Do something spontaneous and fun to break up the routine and monotony. Each day can run into one another as you handle everyone else's needs but your own.

Ask someone to babysit so you can take off by yourself, or with some friends and have fun! Laugh and rejuvenate your inner child!

Mom & Dad's Mental Health (FM)

So often, after a new baby arrives, the emphasis is placed on taking care of the infant and how is the baby doing, while mom and dad's mental and emotional health can easily get overlooked.

This show I wanted to check in on mom and dad after baby with Dr. Shoshana Bennett, PhD and Gregory Keer, fatherhood expert and publisher of the website www.familymanonline.com. While postpartum depression is gaining more awareness the concept of dad falling victim to postpartum is not commonly talked about and is just as real. Greg has a few articles on his website specifically focused on this issue.

But besides postpartum, there are a myriad of uncomfortable emotions that can crop up as well, such as the Baby Blues, feeling completely overwhelmed, paniced, fearful of the new financial commitment and added responsibilities. Dr. Shoshana taps into these aspects and discusses what is normal and what isn't, warning signs that professional help may be needed, and suggestions on where to seek support. And while family and friends may be a new parents first sounding board, that may not always be the best option.

Then Gregory Keer and I discuss what dad may be going through regarding concerns of added financial responsibility, his feelings of insecurity regarding where do I fit in, wondering where the intimacy went with his partner, and how to get in sync with my new baby?

Tap into a lively conversation all around.